After walking along the Baoshui for many days, you will soon arrive at Yuchuan Town, which is the west of Taibai County in later generations.

This is one of the four major towns in Yixian County, and the other three important towns are Xiegu, Qingyu and Hengqu.

Yuchuan Town and Xiegu Town, firmly stuck in the Bao Slope Road, are both garrisoned by troops.

At the same time, there is also the customs that are responsible for tax collection.

The front has already begun to queue up, and Zhu Ming also planned to line up honestly, but he heard the official messenger who delivered the official document say: "Ladies and gentlemen, just follow me." ”

So, the gentlemen began to cut in line......

The official was dressed in official clothes, took out his waist card and papers, and the tax collector glanced at it casually, and then gestured for the errand to let him go.

The official said: "These are all people from Lizhou, and we are going to Tokyo to take the exam." ”

The tax collector did not dare to slack off and went to inspect it himself.

casually checked the two people's complaints, and the tax collector didn't bother to look at it anymore, but said: "The ministers should pay some taxes." ”

Lifting people is not exempt from tax, and at this time, they did not take official ships and official cars.

The tax rate is 2%, and customs declaration and search are required.

But the people are somewhat decent, and it is impossible to let the tax collectors inspect them, as long as they bring not many goods, they can give a few symbolic ones.

By the way, if the law is strictly followed, the officials of the Song Dynasty also have to pay commercial taxes. From the founding of the Northern Song Dynasty to its demise, the central court issued repeated orders that officials and magnates were not allowed to evade taxes, let alone use official ships to transport goods to avoid taxes.

Since it needs to be ordered repeatedly, it means that it is repeatedly banned.

"How much?" Zhu Ming asked in a low voice.

Bai Chongyan is very experienced: "A hundred yuan is enough, we don't bring much goods, just make a show." By the way, this place belongs to the boundary of Fengxiang Mansion, and only gold, silver and copper coins are accepted, and the iron coins of Sichuan and Shaanxi 4th Road are not recognized. I exchanged some copper coins in Yangzhou and paid them for Da Lang. ”

"Thank you." Zhu Ming didn't know to be polite.

Soon it was Bai Chongyan's turn, and he took out two strings of copper coins: "Zubai, two of you." ”

The tax collector immediately let him go, and did not stop the cornucopia from collecting more.

Chen Yuan was wearing a Dongpo scarf, Xue Daoguang was dressed as a Taoist priest, and they were mixed with the lifters, and they all gave some money to pass the test smoothly.

Zhu Ming led the horse through the checkpoint and turned around to observe carefully.

When they found those business travelers in the back, they not only had to carefully inspect the goods, but even searched their bodies. And there is a special female tax difference, which is responsible for searching for passing women.

If you have too much money on your body, you will have to pay taxes on that money!

Gold, silver, copper, and iron coins are also subject to a 2% toll. Unless you can come up with an official business contract to prove that the money you bring belongs to the income from the sale of goods by the government - this is another tax evasion loophole, and a big businessman with connections can easily issue a tax exemption certificate.

Until the fourth year of the Southern Song Dynasty, the whole country was suffering from a money shortage, and the imperial court abolished the tax on metal currency in order to encourage currency circulation.

Zhu Ming looked back at Guancheng again, to be precise, it was a dirt and stone village, stuck at the exit of the valley.

Maybe it's because of the peaceful years, there are not many soldiers guarding the pass, and it is estimated that some people are eating empty salaries. The soldiers were lazy, unarmoured, not even leather, crooked, sitting or standing, and most of them were not even armed.

Zhu Ming felt that he only needed to bring a hundred elite soldiers to easily capture this level!

"There is an inn in front, so I can sleep well." Bai Chongyan said.

After passing the pass, the front is instantly open, and you can even see a large paddy field.

In addition, there is a delivery shop, the Yangzhou official who is responsible for delivering the official documents, ran to the delivery shop to contact, and soon went to the inn to say to the scholars: "Ladies and gentlemen, the official ship of the delivery shop has been agreed, and I will be able to take the boat again tomorrow." ”

"It's hard work!" Min Zishun thanked the scholars on behalf of the scholars.

The official said with a smile: "They are all fellow villagers in Yangzhou, so they are nothing." ”

He is a small bad person, and among the people who are rushing to take the exam, there are many rich people in Yangzhou, of course, he has to be a good student.

Bai Sheng took the cornucopia to the stable and got some forage to supplement his nutrition.

Zhu Ming ate some casually, and then went back to the guest room to sleep, he was really tired all the way.

He could faintly feel that Chen Yuan was a little dissatisfied with him.

Lecture all the way, Chen Yuan is the main one, and Zhu Ming is the deputy.

Chen Yuan talked about the big truth, while Zhu Ming mixed all kinds of private goods, such as deliberately misinterpreting the mandate of heaven that day.

"Bang bang bang!"

There was a knock on the door, and Zhu Ming got up to open the door.

Chen Yuan walked in, poured himself a bowl of cold boiled water to quench his thirst, sat down and said, "Da Lang, I will give a lecture in the future, can you not talk nonsense?" ”

Zhu Ming smiled and said, "Okay, listen to Mr." ”

With this attitude alone, Chen Yuan knew that it was perfunctory, and sighed: "What Da Lang said and did reminded me of the reluctant Xianggong (Wang Anshi). ”

"The kid is not talented, and he doesn't dare to compare with Wang Jinggong." Zhu Ming hurriedly said.

Chen Yuan said: "Although I have never met Wang Jinggong, I have heard the elders in my family often mention it. Da Lang is very similar to Wang Jinggong, they are both very intelligent, and they can understand the scriptures when they are young. Wang Jinggong is familiar with the scriptures, and together with the scriptures, he can be called the great Confucian of the world, but he deliberately misinterprets it at the key point. He misinterpreted the meaning of the scriptures in order to change the law, why did Da Lang distort the meaning of the scriptures? ”

Zhu Ming took out the small jar of tung oil he carried with him, poured some on the silk cloth, slowly wiped the sword, and asked, "Sir, how is this sword?" ”

"Divine weapons." When Chen Yuan was in Daming Village, he had seen Zhu Ming's sword.

Zhu Ming said nonsense: "My ambition is to enter the prime minister and calm the world for the imperial court." Sometimes, my husband thinks I'm misinterpreting the scriptures, but I think I'm right. Even if it's wrong, it's not wrong. ”

Chen Yuan asked, "Do you want to be the second awkward minister?" ”

Zhu Ming flicked his sword and said: "Whether it is Fan Wenzheng Gong or Wang Jinggong, their changes have failed to touch the sore spot of the Great Song Dynasty. The sore point of the Great Song Dynasty lies in the rule of officials, and the rule of officials is not clear, and no matter how good the new law is, it will become a bad government. Fan Wenzhenggong didn't dare to rectify the rule of officials, and Wang Jinggong didn't dare to rectify the rule of officials, I think I can try. This sword is sharp, and it can cut corrupt officials and corrupt officials! ”

Chen Yuan said: "The Great Song Dynasty does not kill scholars. ”

Zhu Ming sneered: "Then start with me, the scholar doctor can also be killed!" ”

Chen Yuan was shocked: "You are going to be the enemy of the world's scholars, and I am afraid that it will be the way to cause trouble." ”

Zhu Ming asked: "I read the books of the sages and sages, but I became a corrupt official and corrupt official, harming the country and crippling the people." Is such a scholar worthy of the title of sergeant? Mencius said, I heard of a husband, but I didn't hear of killing a king. A faint monarch can be killed if there is no way, but a scholar who is corrupt and perverts the law cannot be killed? Could it be that a scholar is nobler than a king? ”

Chen Yuan was speechless, because Zhu Ming had sufficient reasons, and it was based on Mencius.

Zhu Ming pointed to the iron spear and shovel placed in the corner of the wall, and then pointed to the bow and arrow on the table: "These three weapons, I will use them to kill the enemy." And the sword in my hand will kill corrupt officials and corrupt officials in the future! In 30 years, I want to be the prime minister, level the world for the Great Song Dynasty, and clarify the United States! ”

Quan Te is nonsense, and he has been the prime minister for 30 years.

Chen Yuan was shocked by Zhu Ming's ambition, thinking that he was really a loyal man for the country and the people, and he admired and worried: "Da Lang has this heart, and he is very good." However, Wang Jinggong is not far away, and he must not repeat his mistakes, in case it triggers party disputes, it will be difficult to clean up. ”

Zhu Ming said: "The failure of Wang Jinggong's reform of the law, and even the party dispute, is fundamentally due to the failure to clear the rule of officials, and I certainly will not repeat the mistakes of the past." ”

The meaning of this passage is that at the beginning of the reform, in the name of rectifying the rule of officials, all the opponents were driven out of the court and those who were serious were promoted to fill their positions. As long as the reform is effective, there will be no party struggle while he is alive.

That's what Zhang Juzheng did.

Chen Yuan shook his head: "You are going to be a powerful minister, and your name behind you will be ruined!" ”

Zhu Ming's righteousness was awe-inspiring: "If the husband wants to settle the world, he will not hesitate to die and the clan will be wiped out, and what does he care about the name behind him?" Thousands of years of meritorious deeds, their own descendants comment. ”

This thing stands with a sword in his hand, full of acting skills, as if he really has a pair of iron bones.

Chen Yuan was silent for a long time, and said: "The ambition for success is high, so I might as well do it." Henceforth...... Do it yourself, and guard against arrogance and rashness. ”

"Hahaha!"

Zhu Ming suddenly smiled again: "Sir, sit down, it was all funny just now." I haven't even been admitted to the Jinshi exam now, so what are I talking about changing the prime minister's method. ”

Chen Yuan was stunned: "You are such a lazy scoundrel, but I am more relieved, I must be more sleek and cunning than Wang Jinggong." People who are too upright, don't talk about changing the law, even if they are prime ministers, it is difficult. ”

No longer complaining that Zhu Ming distorted the meaning of the scriptures and disrupted his lectures, Chen Yuan immediately left with a smile.

Zhu Ming continued to patiently polish his sword, and then maintained his bow and arrows, iron spears, and iron maces.

That night, I slept well.

The next day, I took the official boat, went up the water, and had to get off again after crossing the flat area.

Over the mountains and mountains, from the valley through which the water flows, it is hard to enter the valley of the inclined water.

Walk all the way to the town of Sloping Valley and finally be able to take a boat again.

The town of Slope Valley thrived with commerce, but in stark contrast to the large official shipyards that lay outside the town.

Chen Yuan was very concerned about shipbuilding because of the influence of his teacher, and said: "The shipbuilding business here has existed in name only, and there are many fugitives from nearby residents. Now there is a shortage of official ships on Qinfeng Road, and the price of ships is extremely high. Ships can be built here, but they are too much to use, and ships have to be requisitioned from the people. ”

Xiegu Shipbuilding, the largest shipyard in the northwest region, began to rot as early as the Qingli period.

Bao Zheng and Bao Qingtian also made a special visit, saying that it can build 600 ships every year, and it is also responsible for building bridges and foot boats, accounting for one-fifth of the total shipbuilding in the country. However, the Shaanxi Prefecture Army transferred all the tasks that the local government needed to complete to the shipyards, such as the timber for repairing the river and transporting the timber to the capital, and let the shipyard provide it.

The bad luck in the shipyard can only be passed on to the people.

Through on-the-spot investigation, Bao Qingtian found that almost all the big households around him were wheeled and couldn't afford to pay the wood, and one household had to lose 1,200 yuan. There were many bankrupts, and at least two or three people from every large family were exiled because they could not make a difference.

When Bao Zheng was sparse, it was seventy years now!

At that time, it looked like a ghost, but you can imagine what the situation was at this time.

Not only was the Xiegu shipyard destroyed, but there were no big households around, and small people ran away every year. Large tracts of farmland were abandoned, and no one dared to come to cultivate them, for fear that they would be wheeled out if they were not careful.

In the town of Slope Valley, there is still a thriving business, and it is all dependent on the collection of commercial taxes to make a living—here is the exit of the slope road.

Zhu Ming stood at the bow of the boat, looking at the farmland on both sides of the river where the weeds were rising, and muttered to himself: "The landlords here are not having a good time, it is estimated that there are no big landlords anymore." It is a pity that the population and craftsmen were insufficient to restore the shipyard soon. ”

(End of chapter)